Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Adult Tethered Cord
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Adult Tethered Cord
by Suzane-M-Gardner, Feb 07, 1998 12:00AM
Posted By CCF Neurosurgery MD on February 08, 1998 at 11:47:47:
In Reply to: Adult Tethered Cord posted by Suzanne M. Gardner on February 07, 1998 at 22:12:43:
: Why are adults, people who are in their 40's, have NO symptoms of TCS,
usually this condition is discovered by MRI due to some minor accident and
then the neurosurgeons want to do a cord release? Why? If you have lived with this condition your entire life why encourage a patient to have the surgery? And why is the rate of CSF leak so high with this surgery? Which then requires another surgery to attempt to repair the CSF leak that the first surgery created? Why operate on patients with this condition at all if it is not creating a problem for them?
In Reply to: Adult Tethered Cord posted by Suzanne M. Gardner on February 07, 1998 at 22:12:43:
: Why are adults, people who are in their 40's, have NO symptoms of TCS,
usually this condition is discovered by MRI due to some minor accident and
then the neurosurgeons want to do a cord release? Why? If you have lived with this condition your entire life why encourage a patient to have the surgery? And why is the rate of CSF leak so high with this surgery? Which then requires another surgery to attempt to repair the CSF leak that the first surgery created? Why operate on patients with this condition at all if it is not creating a problem for them?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neurosurgery MD, Feb 07, 1998 12:00AM
Dear Ms. Gardner:
There are many causes for tethered cord syndrome. Without knowing what the exact cause is the case you describe I may not be able to provide you with all the answers. In some cases, some people grow and do not necessarily develop symptoms. However as the spine ages and degenerates, the likelihood of permanent neurological damage increases dramatically and this is typically what happens. People are also at higher risk if the are involved in a car accident or a traumatic event. Because of the tethering of the cord, it can not compensate in an adequate manor to even minor injury and consequently results in severe damage. The rate of CSF leak is high because the spinal sac has to be opened to treat the tethering problem. Spinal leaks at our institution do not occur frequently after this type of operation and in most instances another surgery is not needed to fix the problem.
I hope this information helps. Please write back if you have any other questions.
Good Luck!
